[[May (anime)|May]] is very happy to see her first ribbon. [[Ash]] is confident, so they go to the next city. [[Max]] wonders where he is going, when the direction he went to was wrong one. When they arrive to a town, they hear drums being played. A kid arrives to them, making them think who they are. Ash makes a flashback - the kid is Thatcher. Ash wonders why is Thatcher doing in the town, so Thatcher explains.

[[May (anime)|May]] is very happy to see her first ribbon. [[Ash]] is confident, so they go to the next city. [[Max]] wonders where he is going, when the direction he went to was wrong one. When they arrive to a town, they hear drums being played. A kid arrives to them, making them think who they are. Ash makes a flashback - the kid is Thatcher. Ash wonders why is Thatcher doing in the town, so Thatcher explains.

−

When Thatcher went to become a Pokémon trainer, he trained Plusle and Minun. A man appeared before him - a teacher for school in which they all practice cheerleading. Thatcher was lucky enough to be accepted and he learns to cheerlead. Team Rocket overhear, so they want to have their own cheering squad. Max thinks that Helping Hand would be illegal in battles, so he asks [[Brock (anime)|Brock]], but Brock flirts with girls. Thatcher believes that cheering will improve the Pokémon efficiency.

+

When Thatcher went to become a Pokémon trainer, he trained Plusle and Minun. A man appeared before him - a teacher for school in which they all practice cheer leading. Thatcher was lucky enough to be accepted and he learns to cheer lead. Team Rocket overhear, so they want to have their own cheering squad. Max thinks that Helping Hand would be illegal in battles, so he asks [[Brock (anime)|Brock]], but Brock flirts with girls. Thatcher believes that cheering will improve the Pokémon efficiency.

−

Team Rocket appear before the cheerleading teacher and demand to become cheerleaders. They want to battle the gang and will pay the teacher for becoming cheerleaders. A woman arrives near the gang and asks them to battle some new students, to which Ash and Brock agree to. The gang arrives and Thatcher introduces them to the school teacher, Sheridan. Team Rocket arrive as well, so [[James]] (disguised as Jamester) will battle Brock. Jamester sends [[James' Cacnea|Cacnea]], while Brock his [[Brock's Forretress|Forretress]]. Cacnea uses Pin Missile, but the attack is deflected by Forretress' Rapid Spin.

+

Team Rocket appear before the cheer leading teacher and demand to become cheerleaders. They want to battle the gang and will pay the teacher for becoming cheerleaders. A woman arrives near the gang and asks them to battle some new students, to which Ash and Brock agree to. The gang arrives and Thatcher introduces them to the school teacher, Sheridan. Team Rocket arrive as well, so [[James]] (disguised as Jamester) will battle Brock. Jamester sends [[James' Cacnea|Cacnea]], while Brock his [[Brock's Forretress|Forretress]]. Cacnea uses Pin Missile, but the attack is deflected by Forretress' Rapid Spin.

Plot

May is very happy to see her first ribbon. Ash is confident, so they go to the next city. Max wonders where he is going, when the direction he went to was wrong one. When they arrive to a town, they hear drums being played. A kid arrives to them, making them think who they are. Ash makes a flashback - the kid is Thatcher. Ash wonders why is Thatcher doing in the town, so Thatcher explains.

When Thatcher went to become a Pokémon trainer, he trained Plusle and Minun. A man appeared before him - a teacher for school in which they all practice cheer leading. Thatcher was lucky enough to be accepted and he learns to cheer lead. Team Rocket overhear, so they want to have their own cheering squad. Max thinks that Helping Hand would be illegal in battles, so he asks Brock, but Brock flirts with girls. Thatcher believes that cheering will improve the Pokémon efficiency.

Team Rocket appear before the cheer leading teacher and demand to become cheerleaders. They want to battle the gang and will pay the teacher for becoming cheerleaders. A woman arrives near the gang and asks them to battle some new students, to which Ash and Brock agree to. The gang arrives and Thatcher introduces them to the school teacher, Sheridan. Team Rocket arrive as well, so James (disguised as Jamester) will battle Brock. Jamester sends Cacnea, while Brock his Forretress. Cacnea uses Pin Missile, but the attack is deflected by Forretress' Rapid Spin.

Jessica sends Seviper (Jessie planned that James and Meowth will take Pikachu using a new robot). Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, then Quick Attack. Jessie is not ready yet to battle, but Pikachu uses Iron Tail, knocking Seviper out. Max sees the cheer squad from a closer distance. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, hitting Seviper. Jessie demands some support, so the squad cheers. Sheridan whispers "Aroma therapy", so max overhears those words. Inside the drum, Vileplume and Roselia use powder to heal the Seviper.

Sheridan whispers "Helping Hand", so inside the drum Makuhita and Shroomish use Helping Hand to power Seviper. Seviper uses Poison Tail, damaging Pikachu. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, hurting Seviper. Vileplume and Roselia (inisde the drum) use Aroma Therapy to recover the Seviper. Pikachu repeats the attack once more, but so does Sheridan. Seviper uses Poison Tail and Ash orders Pikachu to evade, but Pikachu is tired so he couldn't. Thatcher advises Ash to quit, but Seviper uses Wrap.

Sheridan whispers to use Helping Hand, but Max pushes the drums, so Roselia, Makuhita, Vileplume and Shroomish are revealed to be inside. Everyone is mad at Sheridan, so he escapes. Seviper uses Wrap to attack Pikachu, then uses Haze to dim the Ash's vision. Nevertheless, Pikachu uses Thunder, defeating Seviper. Team Rocket take their disguises off. Jessie wonders where is the robot they should've get, but Meowth replies that they paid for cheerleading, however James reminds them that Pikachu is worn out and they'll capture it. An arm grabs Pikachu. Ash orders Pikchu to use Thunderbolt, but Pikachu is worn out, so he can't.

Thatcher's Plusle and Minum use Helping Hand, powering Pikachu up. Pikachu uses Thunder, freeing himself. Thunder attack goes to the sky and back to Team rocket, negating electricity proof balloon and blasting them off. Thatcher realizes that one self power is greater than someone else's. A woman agrees with Thatcher and will make a new start, so Brock goes with flirting routine, but Max pulls his ear. The gang leaves to Lavaridge Town.

Trivia

Featured Pokémon: Shiftry, Taillow, Swampert, Torkoal

Near the beginning of the episode, the classic Pokémon identification from previous seasons is shown. The Pokémon featured was Jigglypuff.

Errors

When the episode name is announced, the location where Ash and co. are was wrong the entire time - before it seemed they were going in north-western town - Lavaridge Town - but in this episode the location was moved, so in this episode they are travelling from Fallarbor to Lavaridge Town, which is correct.